MASS OF LOVE (Lord Have Mercy)

Before we move into the joyful praise of the Gloria, we pause to acknowledge our need for God's grace. Sir Jude Nnam’s "Mass of Love" provides a gentle, deeply reverent setting for this moment in the Penitential Rite. Written in 1995 for his degree defense at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, this Kyrie has since found a home in Catholic choir lofts across the country.

The piece is built on a calm, steady Moderato tempo that allows the voices to blend naturally. The soprano line carries a simple, pleading melody—"Lord, have mercy, mercy"—while the alto and tenor parts weave underneath with their own earnest echoes. It is an unhurried, sincere call for compassion that quiets the mind and prepares the congregation's hearts for the Liturgy of the Word.